This Colloquium emerges from an urgent imperative: to further develop posthumanism as a philosophy of life capable of meaningfully addressing the complex challenges of the 21st century—at individual, societal, and planetary scales. The event invites posthumanist critical questions and reflections that are embodied, embedded, and relational. In a time marked by profound global transformations—environmental, political, and epistemological—a philosophy that speaks to the very conditions of existence becomes increasingly necessary. In this regard, posthumanism offers valuable tools and methodologies for rethinking entrenched cultural dualistic and anthropocentric frameworks, and the humanist assumptions that have historically sustained systems of exclusion and domination. These patterns are on-going and continue to manifest today in ecological degradation, persistent and more and more evident social marginalization, and violent geopolitical conflict.
 

Yet we seek to engage with today’s challenges affirmatively, advocating for possibilities of existential transformation. To this end, we propose a generative reimagining articulated through the concept of Posthuman Renaissance(s) – Making Self, Making World. The term Renaissance has  long been critically examined within posthumanist studies for its conventional association with 15th and 16th century  European culture—a period often celebrated for its artistic and intellectual achievements. Such a framing, however, represents a reductive historical narrative that both overlooks and underestimates the contribution in arts and culture of preceding epochs and excludes ‘others’ contemporaneous non-European knowledge systems and cultural trajectories. It also ignores the colonial legacy of the European Renaissance, as well as its role in the shaping of the modern humanist world, Eurocentric, anthropocentric, androcentric and logocentric. This reflection on the Renaissance finds special resonance at Presidency University in Kolkata, the host of this Colloquium and a historic site of the Bengal Renaissance. This pivotal movement—unfolding between the late 18th and early 20th centuries under British colonial rule—transformed Indian society and helped shape anti-colonial and nationalist thought, producing thinkers whose influence endures towards a posthumanist future. Revisiting the concept of “Renaissance” from this postcolonial location allows us to challenge enduring Eurocentric narratives and related axioms, and engage in a creative reappropriation that brings local wisdoms, plural cosmologies, and decolonial critiques into dialogue with posthumanist thought.
 

This Colloquium, therefore, does not adopt the Renaissance in its narrow, Eurocentric sense. Instead, it draws on the term’s Latin etymology—re-nasci, meaning “to be born again”—to propose a reconfiguration of rebirth as a generative and continuous process of becoming. This reconceptualization draws upon a range of alternative standpoints: from nonhuman cycles of regeneration to the philosophical notion of becoming, which challenges fixed and monolithic conceptions of subjectivity as static, claiming a presumed purity, and bound to discriminatory humanistic axioms. This event also resonates with spiritual and philosophical traditions across the globe, including indigenous cosmologies and the doctrines of reincarnation and rebirth in Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as from other traditions. All existence is in a state of transformation, of ongoing rebirth. Everything is in constant change. We are always in a state of becoming, capable of ontological rebirth. Holding this perspective is fundamental as we confront the complexities of our time—which requires a more effective translation of these posthumanism theories and praxis. The making of self is inseparable from the making of the world, urging us to rethink existence individually, collectively, and planetarily. This becoming is grounded in a pluralistic posthumanist philosophy that values diverse cultural and epistemological traditions. It critically engages the legacy of colonialism and remains attentive to systemic forms of exclusion—whether gendered, socio-economic, speciesist, or ableist among others. While maintaining its critique of dualism, it also envisions new ways of thinking, being, and acting—engaging core questions at the heart of existential posthumanism:
 

How should we live? How do we co-exist? How can we bring these insights into practice?
 

The Second World Colloquium on Existential Posthumanism offers a space for the shared exploration of these broad questions, and other, more specific, connected to them. As a path of self-inquiry and discovery, existential posthumanism invites us to engage with the resonances, impacts, and effects of our being in the world. This Colloquium reflects that ethos by addressing both expansive philosophical questions and the micro-practices that shape everyday life. Academics, artists, scientists, seekers, practitioners, and activists from around the globe are invited to gather in person—to explore diverse ways of being, cultivate unity through difference, and participate in the Second World Colloquium on Existential Posthumanism: “Making Self, Making World – Posthuman Renaissances”, to be held on January 14-16, 2026 at Presidency University, Kolkata, India.
 

DATES:

Colloquium: January 14-16, 2026 at Presidency University (86/1 College St, College Square, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073, India).

Optional Excursion: Following the conference, an additional day of posthuman discovery in Kolkata on January 17 will be offered to participants at an extra cost, as a unique opportunity to unwind and explore the city’s hidden gems.

We will also have related workshops and events in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, from January 8-11, 2026. Participants will also have the option to attend them.
 

MODALITIES:

This event will be in person. The language of shared communication will be English. The sessions will be offered in two formats. Please specify in Your abstract whether You wish to participate in a panel session (1), present a workshop, lab, or practical seminar (2) or contribute a performance (3)
 

1. Panel Sessions (1 hour and 30 minutes): (Maximum no of panel members should be 4). Each presenter will have 5 to 8 minutes for a brief, focused presentation (flash style). The panel will then move into a 20-minute moderated dialogue among the presenters. Following this conversation, the floor will open to the audience, who will be invited to engage by highlighting key points and offering reflections.

This format is designed to ensure that each session is dialogical, interactive, and dynamic.
 

Presenters are encouraged to submit a short paper (1,500–2,000 words) expanding on their ideas. Papers must be submitted before the event (date TBD) and will be shared with all participants for the duration of the conference.
 

Panelists may also indicate interest in serving as a session chair. Chairs will receive brief training to ensure fair timekeeping and to support a smooth, balanced, and respectful flow of discussion.

 

2. Workshops, Labs, and Practical Seminars: Participants are invited to propose hands-on or interactive sessions designed to engage attendees in practical exploration and skill-building. These sessions can range in length from 15 to 30 minutes, offering concise yet immersive opportunities for active participation.
 

Additionally, groups of presenters may collaborate on co-led workshop sessions lasting up to 45 minutes, allowing for a richer, more diverse exchange of ideas and methods. These formats encourage experimentation, collective learning, and the application of posthumanist concepts through creative and experiential approaches.
 

Proposals for these sessions should clearly outline the intended activities and learning outcomes. Participants must also provide any necessary materials and specify if particular types of space or equipment are required. The aim is to create dynamic, inclusive environments where theory meets practice, fostering deeper understanding and transformative experiences.

 

3. Posters: Participants are also invited to offer poster presentations. Poster sessions provide an excellent opportunity to share work-in-progress, visual projects, or research that benefits from interactive discussion and visual engagement. Presenting a poster allows authors to receive direct feedback from participants in a more informal, dialogic setting, fostering meaningful scholarly exchange. Posters may feature conceptual frameworks, case studies, methodologies, or creative projects aligned with the conference theme. Submissions for posters will undergo the same review process, and accepted presenters will receive detailed guidelines regarding size, format, and display arrangements. Accepted poster presenters will receive detailed guidelines regarding size and format. Posters will be displayed throughout the entire conference, with a dedicated poster session during which each presenter will have approximately three minutes to introduce their work.

 

4. Performance or Art Exhibition: Proposals for performances should describe creative or artistic presentations that engage the audience meaningfully in relation to the conference themes. These may include, but are not limited to, theatre, dance, music, multimedia art, spoken word, or experimental formats that explore posthumanist ideas through experience. Short performances (up to 5 minutes) are welcome, as are longer ones, which should be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
 

Please outline how it connects to the conference’s focus, as well as the nature of the performance, its duration, any technical or spatial requirements (conference facilities are limited; organizers will try to accommodate the requests but cannot guarantee them). Performances should foster reflection, dialogue, or affective engagement, enriching the conference through diverse expressive forms.

TOPICS:

These are some of the Topics and Questions the Colloquium will address (without being limited to them):
 

• Existential posthumanism and Self-inquiry.

• Existential posthumanism and the quotidian (food, water, dreams).

• Existential posthumanism, the environment and ecology.

• Existential posthumanism and Big History (from the Paleolithic times to the far futures)

• Existential posthumanism and literary studies.

• Existential posthumanism and politics.

• Existential posthumanism and science.

• Existential posthumanism and technology.

• Existential posthumanism and technologies of the self (i.e. silence, meditation, contemplation).

• (Bio)ethics and posthumanism: dilemmas and existential perspectives.

• Existential posthumanism, religions and spirituality.

• Existential posthumanism and death.

• Existential posthumanism, war, conflict resolution, and peace.

• Existential posthumanism and well-being.

• Existential posthumanism, individual, collective and planetary healing.

• Existential posthumanism and health.

• Existential posthumanism and the Indian subcontinent.

• Existential posthumanism, Indian traditions and philosophies.

• Post-dualism and the caste system.

• Existential posthumanism and archeology.

• Existential posthumanism and human diversity.

• Posthuman pedagogies.

• The posthuman and the planetary.

• Posthumanism, postcolonialism and the decolonial.

 

Fee for Each Participant:

Indian Academics and Professionals: Rs. 2500
 

Indian Research Scholars : Rs. 1500
 

Indian Students: Rs. 1000

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Foreign Nationals: USD 100
 

Registration includes conference kit, Morning Tea/Coffee, Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee and Snacks and access to all the sessions of the conference. Accommodation costs are not included. A limited number of subsidized accommodations may be available for interested attendees.

 

Submission of summaries:
 

Please provide a summary of the argument you intend to present, around 250 words in length. Be sure to indicate whether your submission is for a panel session, workshop, or performance.

 

Scientific Committee (alphabetical order):
 

·         Debashish Banerji (California Institute of Integral Studies, United States)
 

·         Francesca Ferrando (New York University, United States)
 

·         Joanna Pascoe (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)
 

·         Md Monirul Islam ( Presidency University, Kolkata)
 

·         Rodrigo Esparza (Tec de Monterrey, Mexico)
 

·         Samrat Sengupta (Sidho-Kanho Birsha University, India)
 

·         Stefano Rozzoni (University of Bergamo, Italy)
 

·         Sumit Chakrabarti (Presidency University, India)